To pose or not to pose: Styles in wedding photography
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Of course, it is more complicated than that and some photographers fall in between, but simply put:
Mostly Posed
The traditional wedding photographer focuses on creating and arranging poses for the wedding party and family before and after the
ceremony, and even during the reception. Some candids may be taken. Basically, the photographer runs the show and will direct clients
on where to stand and look and will often physically pose people. Clients may even select poses from a book or submit photos to have
the photographer recreate.
Your parents probably had this experience, but it remains popular today and is the right choice for some couples.
Mostly Unposed
The documentary or wedding photojournalist is skilled at capturing moments, not perfectly arranging posed images. That said, the
photographer will usually do a brief simple portrait session with the bridal party and family before or after the ceremony. The rest
of the time, he or she will anticipate moments between the couple and their guests while generally trying to remain as inconspicuous
as possible. Because every wedding is different, the images will be unique from event to event, but a trained photojournalist will capture
the important moments and the story of YOUR own wedding day. All you have to do is enjoy yourself.
If you didn’t already know, I’m very much in the latter group. It takes skill to do BOTH types of wedding photography, so neither is
inherently better than the other. What really matters is that you as a couple find the right photographer. It is as much about
the experience of having the pictures taken (posing or not posing) as is getting images you love. Choosing the right style of
photography will make your wedding day the enjoyable event it should be.
Takeaway: Avoid being poorly matched with your wedding photographer or client.
Couples: Ask photographers about the experience of being photographed by them. Is it how you envision your wedding day?
Photographers: When you get clients wanting to plan a two-hour formal photo shoot, and that’s not your speciality, kindly referrer them
to a traditional-style studio in your area. Same goes for clients who’d rather not spend the evening looking into the camera, send them
to a wedding photojournalist.
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